City House

Pittsburgh is filled with quirky urban residential neighborhoods that continue to thrive as they transition into the 21st c.

Many of the houses are compact, lack adequate storage and bathrooms, and were built with clay tile and brick exterior walls.

This construction type creates challenges for homeowners and builders alike, as they attempt to transform not only the home’s structure, but its thermal performance as well.

The kitchen must go.

Powder room will tuck under the stair landing.

life on a construction site.

The bathroom must go.

A future master suite.

Finding space for a laundry room from an oversized bedroom.

The outdoor cold room and bay are removed to open up the back.

This house illustrates many of the typical challenges and goals faced in a whole-house transformation: expanding and opening the kitchen up to the main floor and backyard; creating a private backyard deck; cleverly creating space for a first floor powder room and a second floor laundry; creating a master suite; providing air conditioning, and insulating the envelope.

When complete, it will feel like a new house and hopefully live another century or two.